BIG IDEA: The OCAD Annual

Rebecca Caswell - Ideation, Research, Commercial, Construction of Prototype

Danielle Sebastian - Ideation, Research, Layout Design, Construction of Prototype

Bill Avgerinos - Ideation, Research, Cover Design, Logo Design, Construction of Prototype

Sarah Lavoie - Ideation, Research, Design of Prototype, Construction of Prototype

BIG IDEA: The OCAD Annual

We present to you the OCAD Annual, a yearly publication showcasing a selection of work completed over the past year by students.

Our vision is to start a yearly publication that strengthens the feeling of community within OCAD's student body, that also serves as a vehicle to promote the school and the work it's students have created.

Through research we have discovered that there is a lack of connection and communication, not only between the students of each program, but within the both faculties of Art and Design. The OCAD Annual would create the opportunity for all students to submit a selection of their best works. First year students would be given one quarter of a page, second year students would be given half a page, third year students would be given one full page, and the fourth year students would have a full double page spread.

With the OCAD Annual, students could discover what their peers, in every discipline, have created over the past year. The students submission would include the Student's name and email, creating the possibility for networking.





Our goal is to have this printed by Rolland Enviro 100 Book, a special company that uses an ecologically friendly paper. It contains 100% post-consumer fibre, and we feel that this would be an appropriate choice for OCAD.


The publication would be run by a committee of students, and the school would provide the necessary funds. Each student would be able to upload their work individually, online.

Prototype: Our prototype shows what the OCAD Annual would look like. Its current cover design is sleek, professional, and like a blank canvas, open for students to personalize it.

Our target audience are students in the school , faculty, and various other organizations who would be interested in having one of these books.

Marketing: Students would hear of this publication through creative student email notifications, an open exhibit in the main hallway, and a website, accessed from OCAD's home page.

The Five Minute Pitch

This week you will be presenting your ONE BIG IDEA in class. You don't have anything to hand in. Make sure that you have created a blog post that sums up and shows a visual of your ONE BIG IDEA at OCAD. From this blog posting you will be making a 5 minute pitch of your idea to the class. Try to convince us of the merits of your idea, and why we should adopt it here at the University.

The 5 Minute Pitch:
Practice and fine tuning the art of the five minute pitch is fundamental to your professional development as a designer. Good ideas can get lost if you don’t know how to present them. Even mediocre ideas (not that I’m advocating mediocrity) can be improved and worked upon in a presentation.

The idea is to get your audience’s attention – and hold it, for 5 minutes. Then you ask for what you came for. Make sure you are clear about this -- you should know what you want to get from the pitching session, and what you are going to ask for.

The Theory of the 5 Minute Pitch:
The beauty of learning to pitch your concept within the 5 minute time frame works on the basis that anyone can concentrate for 5 minutes - so you’re guaranteed to keep your audience’s attention to the end. They will appreciate the fact that you are so quickly able to come to the point, saving their valuable time. There will be times when you will require much longer to show work - when it is complex, or involves a time-based presentation, but more often than not, what you need to say can be said in 5 minutes.

The Method:
When you present, or ‘pitch’ your design ideas and projects, you must try to grab your audience’s attention as soon as you start, and hold it. Plan what you are going to say, and if necessary,take notes in point form so that you don’t miss any of the points you wish to make, or disturb the flow of your presentation.

Practice your presentation - and time it! Make sure that it really is a five minute pitch.

Here are the points you need to hit:

1 Introduce yourself and your team; briefly explain your roles and responsibilities in the team – what you did.

2 Introduce your project, by name (if your project hasn’t got a name, give it one).

3 Tell us about your vision – WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO DO THIS?

4 Briefly describe your concept, back it up with reference to your research.

5 Briefly explain your project and demo or describe a couple of the high points...

6 Identify your target audience.

7 Describe your method of marketing and distribution to your audience ie: how will they find out about it, and how will they get to use it?

You don’t need to do this for class, but the next steps in the real world are....

8 If your project is a product or service, identify your price point.

9 Briefly present your budget. Then ask for the money/support/grant/assistance you need!

10 Always -- Thank the people who have so graciously listened to your pitch.